The fitness of Cristiano Ronaldo looks set to heighten tensions between Real Madrid and Portugal once again with his national team set to call him into the squad for their World Cup play-off, despite Madrid saying he is injured.
After returning from a visit with specialist Dutch surgeon Dr. Niek Van Dijk it was revealed by Real that the winger will not need surgery on his ankle and it is believed he will be ready for a return to action in approximately a fortnight.
However with Portugal set to play both legs of their crucial World Cup play-off against Bosnia on November 14 at home and November 18 away, it appears the national team coach Carlos Queiroz set to call the player up to the squad on Sunday to be assessed by their own medical staff.
"Cristiano wants to come, he will come to the squad and will be reviewed by the medical team," Portuguese Football Federation president Gilberto Madail said, according to AS.
Real's director general has given the club's stance on the matter in the clearest terms saying that his absence from games is proof he is injured.
"If we have not used him [Ronaldo] these last few games it was for a reason. It is doctors and common sense that keeps him from playing with Portugal. We hope to have no problem because the medical part is clear," he declared bluntly.
Ronaldo's last involvement in a game came in Portugal's 3-0 win over Hungary on October 10, even though he missed the previous game for Madrid against Sevilla. During that World Cup qualifier he suffered a recurrence of his troublesome ankle injury and has not played since with club and country expressing conflicting views on his ability to participate in the game.
